Rail joint



. HALL RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION mwwurn, 1921.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

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Patented U et. 17, 12922.

UNE FED STATES a a e i E; If

CHARLES It. HALL, OF WEST HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE KBIGK, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed July '11,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at West'l-lazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n a Hail Joint; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrlption of the invention,.such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to rail joints and aims to provide an interlocking and self bracing joint which will maintain a continuous bearing surface and obviate the usual gap and play at the joint which is destructive to rolling stock and objectionable because of the noise and jolt experienced when the wheels of a car pass thereover.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail joint illustrative of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof parts belng broken away.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line w-m of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 4: is a top plan view of the slotted rail end and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking tongue provided at one end of the rail.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate the ends of adjacent rails bordering upon the joint. One of the rail ends is provided with a longitudinal slot 3 and the companion rail end is formed with a tongue 4 adapted to snugly fit the slot 3 when the rails are assembled. in proper position to form the joint. The rail end 1 having the longitudinal slot 3 has its web portion enlarged to admit of form- 1921. Serial No. 483,771.

ing the slot- 3 therein without materially weakening the same. The slot 3 extends through the head of the rail and its bottom is about in line with the top of the base or foot of the rail. A. projection 5 extends upwardly a short distance from the bottom of the slot 3 near the open end thereof. The inner end of the slot 3 is laterally enlarged as indicated at 6 and the upper portion. of the enlargement 6 is further enlarged as indicated at 7.

The rail end 2 is formed with the tongue 4 which is notched in its lower edge, as in dicated at 8, to receive the projection 5. The extremity of the tongue 4 is enlarged. as indicated at 9, and is further enlarged as designated at 10, the parts being such that when the rail ends 1 and 2 are properly assembled the tongue 4 and enlargements 9 and 10 will snugly fit the slot 3 and the enlargements 6 and 7, respectively. When the I rail ends are joined the top of the tongue 1 with the enlargement 10 comes flush with the top of the rail so as to provide a continuous bearing surface for the ear wheels. A rail chair 11 engages the rail ends 1 and 2 and is channeled in its top side to receive the foot or base of the rail ends and prevent relative vertical movement thereof. The chair 11 is slipped upon one of-the rail ends prior to coupling the same by entering the tongue 1 into the slot 3. After the rail ends have been coupled, the chair 11 is moved so as to overlap the joint and form an equal support for each of the rail ends, thereby preventing any vertical movement thereof, since the channel in the top side of the chair 11 snugly receives the foot or base of the rails, as indicated most clearly in Figure 1. The chair 11 is made secure by spikes 12 which are driven into the tie through openings formed along the edges of the chair. the foot or base of the rail ends being notched to receive the spikes whereby the parts are made secure. The interlocking notch 8 and projection 5 resist relative longitudinal movement of the rails. Resistance to such movement is further provided for by the lateral enlargements 6 and 7 of the slot 3 and the corresponding enlargements 9 and 10 of the tongue 4.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim is 1. In a rail joint, the combination with adjacent rail ends, one of said ends having a v at the upper portion thereof having lateral enlargements, said slot being enlarged laterally at sald tread and terminating short of the side edges of the tread to receive said enlargements and provide supporting shoulders therefor.

2. In a rail joint, the combination With adjacent rail ends, one of said ends having a substantially T-shaped slot extending downwardly from its tread and terminating short of the bottom, the other end having a T-shaped projection to enter said slot, said projection at its upper surface being flush With the tread and at its Widenedend and at the upper portion thereof having lateral enlargements, said slot being enlarged lat-- erally at said tread and terminating short of the side edges of the tread to receive said enlargements and provide supporting shoulders therefor, said ends being generally enlarged laterally, one of said ends being enlarged at its base and having a projection extending upwardly therefrom, and said tongue having a notch disposed intermediate the ends of the tongue to receive said projection. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHARLES R. HALL. Witnesses:

BENNETT S. JONES,v E. VVAIDELIOH. 

